Senior Protected Species Advisor

Senior Protected Species Advisor

Team / Directorate: Development Planning Advice Service / Operations

Starting salary: £41,132 rising to £44,988 per annum through annual increments being paid each year (pro rata for part time applicants)

Contract type: Fixed term (12 months from date of appointment, with potential for extension)

Work pattern: Full time, 37 hours per week. (Part time, annualised hours, compressed hours or term time working considered - discussions at interview stage welcome)

Post number: 203768

The role

We have an exciting opportunity to join our Wales wide Protected Species Team, in our Development Planning Advice Service. You will be working as part of a team that advises on the potential impacts of a broad cross section of proposals on protected species, with a particular focus on species licence applications and development planning advice. At the time of a climate and nature emergency, the advice you provide will contribute directly to the conservation of some of Wales most iconic and endangered species.

In this role, the post holder will provide lead professional and technical expertise and guidance to internal and external customers in relation to the following species of animals protected by law: Bats (all species), Otters, Great Crested Newt, Dormice, Natterjack Toad, Sand Lizard, Red Squirrel, Pine Marten and Water Voles, and play an essential role in providing support and advice to other members of the team.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and adaptable individual with a passion for the environment to join our team; an organised team player with excellent people skills.

The successful candidate will need to be able to demonstrate experience in the ecology, conservation and principles of mitigation for a range of protected species including bats, great crested newt, dormouse and otter, good communication skills and customer management.

You will work with colleagues across Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and with external customers.

As an organisation we support flexible working. You will be contracted to the NRW office at the above location and a suitable hybrid working pattern will be agreed on appointment. Any regular face to face meetings or training will be planned in advance.

What you will do

• Oversee and provide technical assurance for teams input to Local Development Plans and other sub-regional strategies and plans ensuring advice is robust, evidence based and delivered to deadline.
• Provide advice to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects or complex high-risk casework/Species Permit consultations ensuring advice is robust, evidence based and delivered to deadline.
• Contribute professional judgement and assistance to decision-making in respect of strategic and complex casework/Species Permit consultations managed by other team members.
• Contribute to the preparation of information in relation to challenges against NRW development advice or licensing determinations, including attendance at Appeals and Inquiries.
• Provide advice to support the management of designated sites where Protected Species are present.
• Contribute to the development of NRW policy/ process and guidance and advise on effective implementation in the team to ensure that a consistent & effective approach is maintained.
• Develop and maintain effective customer relationships (internal and external) to ensure good understanding and the efficient delivery of a fit for purpose advice service.
• Mentor, train and coach other members of the team and the wider Planning Service on policies, procedures, practices and techniques equipping them with the knowledge and skills required to deliver their work in an effective, consistent and efficient manner.
• Contribute advice to multifunctional place planning such as Area Statements and biodiversity resilience plans and programmes.
• Contribute to the development of the team work plan.
• Ensure the technical development of team members.
• Provide technical expert witness capability to Appeals and Inquiries on matters of Protected Species for which the team has a remit.
• Provide technical advice support to the Police in investigating Protected Species offences and contribute to wider Protected Species compliance activities as appropriate.
• Contribute to the identification/commissioning of evidence/ surveillance and monitoring programmes.
• Contribute to the delivery of surveillance and monitoring programmes.
• Produce auditable records of actions and outcomes to justify and demonstrate that all legal and procedural requirements have been met.
• Undertake health and safety duties and responsibilities appropriate to the post.
• Be committed to Natural Resources Wales Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy, together with an understanding of how it operates within the responsibilities of the post.
• Be committed to your own development and that of your staff through the effective use of your personal development plan (known as Sgwrs).
• Any other reasonable duties requested commensurate with the grade of this role.

Your qualifications, experience, knowledge and skills

In your application and interview you will be asked to demonstrate the following skills and experience using the STAR method.

1. Excellent knowledge and experience of the ecology and conservation of, and approaches to mitigation suitable for the range of the species for which the team has responsibility.
2. Excellent understanding of legislative and regulatory frameworks that relate to protected species and their protection and enhancement.
3. Practical understanding of development planning process and customer needs.
4. Ability to communicate and negotiate effectively with stakeholders at senior management levels.
5. Good written and spoken communication skills and an ability to represent both the technical and strategic aspects of Protected Species work to non-specialists, both within NRW and externally, in a concise and effective way.
6. Experience of Project Management.
7. Coaching and mentoring skills.
8. Able to work well as part of a team and lead virtual teams of staff who have a range of technical skills and specialisms.
9. Able to secure and maintain a licence to disturb protected species.
10. Have achieved or be working towards achieving professional body membership.
11. Able to currently and legally drive a car in the UK.

Welsh language level requirements

Essential: Level A1 – Entry level (able to use and understand simple, basic phrases and greetings, no conversational Welsh)

Desirable: Level B2 – Upper intermediate level (able to discuss work matters)

Please note if you do not meet the A1 requirement i.e., ability to understand basic phrases and ability to pronounce Welsh names correctly, then NRW offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal requirements during the course of your employment with us.

This role will offer a range of benefits, including:

• Civil Service Pension Scheme offering employer contributions of 28.97%
• 28 days annual leave, rising to 33 days
• generous leave entitlements for all your life needs
• commitment to professional development
• health and wellbeing benefits and support
• weekly wellbeing hour to use as you choose

See full details for all the employee benefits you will receive.

Please keep reading

If you think you have what it takes to do this role, but don’t necessarily meet every single point on the job description, please still get in touch and we will be happy to discuss the role with you in more detail.

We’re passionate about creating a diverse workforce and positively encourage applications from under-represented communities. We embrace equality of opportunity irrespective of disability, neurodivergence, ethnic origin, colour, nationality, gender expression and gender identity, marital status, sexual orientation, culture, or religion. We put the principles of human rights, equality, fairness, dignity and respect at the heart of our values.

We are committed to equal opportunities, and we guarantee interviews for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

We want to attract and retain talented and highly skilled staff, so we make sure that our pay scales remain competitive. We advertise the full pay scale on our job descriptions. Appointed candidates start at the first point of the pay scale and annual increments are paid each year.

We want our staff to grow professionally and personally. From leadership development to access to further and higher education courses, our staff have opportunities to expand their knowledge on a variety of topics, stay current in their field and continue to learn as their career progresses.

We are a Bilingual organisation which complies with the Welsh Language Standards. Welsh language skills are considered an asset to NRW and we encourage and support staff to learn, develop and use their Welsh language skills.